Missouri voters will decide in November whether to guarantee a right to abortion with a constitutional amendment that would reverse the state’s near-total ban on the procedure. The secretary of state’s office certified Tuesday that an initiative petition received more than enough signatures from registered voters to qualify for the general election. It will need approval from a majority of voters to become enshrined in the state constitution.
Missouri will join at least a half-dozen states voting on abortion rights during the presidential election. Arizona’s secretary of state certified an abortion-rights measure for the ballot on Monday. Measures also will go before voters in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and South Dakota. While not explicitly addressing abortion rights, a New York ballot measure would bar discrimination based on “pregnancy outcomes” and “reproductive healthcare,” among other things.
Initiative supporters had expressed confidence the measure will make the ballot after submitting more than double the necessary number of signatures.
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to abortion in 2022, sparking a state-by-state battle in legislatures and a new push to let voters decide the issue. Since the ruling, most Republican-controlled states have new abortion restrictions in effect while most Democratic-led states have measures protecting abortion access.
Abortion rights supporters have prevailed in all seven states that already have decided ballot measures since 2022: California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont.
The high court’s decision overturning its Roe v. Wade precedent triggered a 2019 Missouri law to take effect prohibiting abortion “except in cases of medical emergency.” That law makes it a felony punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison to perform or induce an abortion, though a woman undergoing an abortion cannot be prosecuted.
Since then, almost no abortions have occurred in Missouri. But that doesn’t mean Missouri residents aren’t having abortions. They can still travel to out-of-state abortion clinics, including ones just across the border in Illinois and Kansas.
The Missouri ballot measure would create a right to abortion until a fetus could likely survive outside the womb without extraordinary medical measures. Fetal viability generally has been considered to be around 23 or 24 weeks into pregnancy but has shifted downward with medical advances. The ballot measure would allow abortions after fetal viability if a health care professional determines it’s necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.
The Fight to Protect Abortion Rights in Missouri
The fight to protect abortion rights in Missouri has been a long and contentious one, with both sides mobilizing their supporters and resources in an effort to sway public opinion. Pro-choice advocates have argued that the right to abortion is essential to women's autonomy and bodily integrity, while anti-abortion groups have maintained that abortion is morally wrong and should be illegal.
The Legal Battle Over Abortion Rights
The legal landscape surrounding abortion rights in Missouri has been in flux for years, with numerous legal challenges and court decisions shaping the debate. The state's current ban on abortion, with only limited exceptions for the life and health of the mother, is the result of a series of legislative actions and court rulings. In recent years, the Missouri legislature has passed a number of laws that have made it increasingly difficult for women to access abortion services in the state. These laws have included requirements for mandatory counseling and waiting periods, as well as restrictions on the use of telemedicine for abortion care. These laws have been challenged in court by pro-choice advocates, who have argued that they violate women's constitutional rights. However, the courts have largely upheld these restrictions.
The Political Battle Over Abortion Rights
The political battle over abortion rights in Missouri is closely tied to the state's deep divisions on the issue. The state is home to a strong anti-abortion movement, which has successfully pushed for restrictive abortion laws. However, there is also a significant pro-choice movement in Missouri, which has been working to challenge these laws and protect women's access to abortion care.
The Future of Abortion Rights in Missouri
The outcome of the November election in Missouri will have a significant impact on the future of abortion rights in the state. If the ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution passes, it will significantly weaken the state's ban on abortion. However, if the measure fails, it will likely lead to further restrictions on abortion access in the state.
The battle over abortion rights in Missouri is a microcosm of the national debate on this issue. As the country continues to grapple with the issue of abortion access, Missouri will be a state to watch as it prepares to make a decision that will have a profound impact on the lives of its residents.
